Tony Blair's brilliant plan to give the police the power to fine drunks £100 on the spot could provide the opportunity to show off the majesty of the government's email snooping bill.

If the pissed up punter hasn't got enough readies, the idea is that the cops will be entitled to escort them to the nearest cashpoint to withdraw the dosh.

As a reader from the anti-RIP lobby group standpoints out: "Apart from the fact that (as an ex-police officer)I wouldn't have touched such a power with a bargepole to prevent allegations of an obvious kind, if the person is drunk and cannot remember their PIN, might this render them liable to two years in Jail under the RIP Bill for refusal to disclose an electronic key."

The Tory's have branded the idea a 'gimmick' to grab newspaper inches, while civil rights campaigners say it goes too far. Tony says he hopes on-the-spot fines will help cut the problem of late-night drunkeness in towns and cities. ®

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